News Releases - 2002

Informational Meeting Set for DuPage County Citizen's Advisory Group

Springfield, Ill. -- An informational meeting for the formation of a Citizen's Advisory Group will be held on Tuesday, February 12, 2002, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Downers Grove North High School, 4436 Main Street in Downers Grove. The meeting is open to citizens of the area that are concerned about the groundwater contamination in DuPage County.

In recent months, the Illinois EPA has been sampling water from private wells in the unincorporated areas of Lisle and Downers Grove for evidence of volatile organic compounds. Results showed contamination of numerous private wells.

The Citizen's Advisory Group is intended to provide a forum in which interested citizens can exchange facts and information and express individual views while attempting to provide consensus recommendations to government officials. If there is adequate commitment from attendees, the meeting will be divided into two groups, since the issues of citizens from the Lisle and Downers Grove areas are different.

Developing a Citizen's Advisory Groups was one of the primary objectives that resulted from the first meeting of the Governor's Action Team, a group of state, federal and local government officials who met recently to discuss the area's groundwater contamination problems and discuss possible solutions.

The Illinois EPA has sent notices of the meeting to those on established mailing lists in the Downers Grove and Lisle areas. However, since interest in issue continues to increase, others in the area that are interested in the groundwater contamination issue is welcome to attend the informational session.

"We want to open this informational meeting to anyone is the area that has questions or concerns about the ongoing investigations", said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano. "We will provide information and support to citizens of the area who wish to form a Citizen's Advisory Group."

While government officials, such as Illinois EPA, may assist in the early stages of the formation of a Citizen's Advisory Group, they will not become voting members. Citizen's Advisory Groups are typically made up of citizens who are directly affected by the environmental concern. Citizen's Advisory Groups are comprised of community members representing the interests of concerned citizens. They typically serve as a way to encourage interaction among interested members of an affected community.

In addition, members of the community such as medical professionals, environmental or public interest group members, local government officials and members of the business community, are often represented.

Representatives from the Citizen's Advisory Group will be able to provide input to the Governor's Action Team. The Action Team will in turn provide their expertise and possible solutions to the problems of the citizens. Copies of fact sheets on organizing Community Advisory Groups are available at the Downers Grove and Lisle Village Halls and may be viewed or copied at the Downers Grove and Lisle Public Libraries, reference section.